Undefeated WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) had a harder time than anticipated, scoring a tenth-round knockout in a voluntary protection towards veteran Ronny Rios (34-5, 17 KOs) within the headliner on Saturday night time in entrance of a Ball’s followers on the M&S Financial institution Area in Liverpool, England.
The 5’2″ Ball was throughout Rios from the primary spherical, battering him with seemingly nonstop punches to the pinnacle and roughing him up. Within the third, Ball knocked Rios, 34, down with a left to the pinnacle after trapping him towards the ropes. Ball’s nostril was bloodied within the spherical and bled for the rest of the struggle.
Ball confirmed that he can take a very good shot tonight, as he acquired hit onerous by Rios, whose energy was larger than his personal. The physique pictures and the punches to the pinnacle that Rios landed on Ball tonight had been like that of a middleweight. Ball took them, however his nostril seemed utterly gone.
Rios got here again and fought properly in rounds 4 by six, hitting Ball onerous with jabs to the nostril and bodyshots. The punches to the physique had been very onerous and clearly bothered Ball, who winced at occasions and bent ahead in response to the ache.
Within the sixth, Ball got here flying out of his nook, hitting Rios with all the pieces however the kitchen sink, attempting to attain a knockout. Nonetheless, he failed to take action, and Rios got here again robust within the shut seconds to nail Ball with pictures to the nostril, sending blood in all places. Ball seemed like a bloody mess as he walked again to his nook. Even the referee’s shirt was stained with blood after the spherical.
Within the tenth, Ball hit Rios with a punch behind the pinnacle, then shoved him to the ropes and unloaded with a storm of punches that despatched him out of the ring. Rios was then helped by the ropes again into the ring by the referee. Nonetheless, Rios’ nook opted to not have the competition halted at that time. The time of the stoppage was at 2:06 of the tenth.
It was a very good victory for Ball, however positively not a straightforward one for him as a result of he took some massive pictures by Rios that may have knocked out quite a lot of fighters.
“It was a particular feeling. I need to thank everybody of them that got here out to help me and acquired tickets. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing with out them,” mentioned Nick Ball to TNT Sports activities after the struggle, speaking in regards to the crowd who had come to see him reside to defend towards Rios tonight.
“Simply those with the opposite belts. I’ve acquired one of many 4. There are the opposite three on the market,” mentioned Ball when requested if he desires to face WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas in a rematch subsequent. “I’m coming for the belts. it could be good to get them
